Steer Hair Growth

[adams4563]

How do you make your steer grow more hair?

 

[iowabeef]

A combination of things-
-rinsing once or twice a day
-lots of elbow grease with a rice root brush.....brush, brush, brush and then do it some more
-keeping the animal in a dark area during the daylight
-if you can't put them in a cooler, then fans in a dark area will work also.
-good genetics in a calf.....some calves are simply hairier and some just don't have it.  We have found really hairy ears when they are little to be a decent indicator of genetics with good hair.


Don't think it will come without a lot of work and a combination of all of the above. There is no magic potion.....elbow grease with a brush is your best bet.

 

[obie105]

A combination of things-
-rinsing once or twice a day
-lots of elbow grease with a rice root brush.....brush, brush, brush and then do it some more
-keeping the animal in a dark area during the daylight
-if you can't put them in a cooler, then fans in a dark area will work also.
-good genetics in a calf.....some calves are simply hairier and some just don't have it.  We have found really hairy ears when they are little to be a decent indicator of genetics with good hair.


Don't think it will come without a lot of work and a combination of all of the above. There is no magic potion.....elbow grease with a brush is your best bet.

Agreed! Genetics play a huge role I have decided. I have a friend that got in a yearling bred heifer yesterday and has 3-4 inches of hair all over her body and legs. She hasn't been washed since May.

 

[Tallcool1]

Iowabeef has given really good advice. Work at it.

There is a lot more to it than having 3 or 4 inches of hair. What is the QUALITY of that hair? 

We have had steers with long hair that really wasn't that good.  I'd take 1/2" of really good hair over 2" of fine unmanageable hair.  Of course I'd really like 2" of the good stuff!